A More
Perfect
union
motion graphics
the CHALLENGE
When tasked with animating song lyrics, I chose “A More Perfect Union” by Titus Andronicus. This is a band that I deeply admire and whose 2010 album The Monitor remains one of the most important records of my life. The song’s structure posed an immediate challenge: it opens with a solemn reading from Abraham Lincoln before violently shifting into a chaotic punk anthem.
Matching that tonal whiplash meant finding a way to combine multiple visual languages. I needed, reverent, historical, raw, and aggressively contemporary, all without losing the emotional force of the music.
the Result
My solve began with Lincoln’s words rendered as candlelit, handwritten scrawl, then transitioned into a rough letterpress style synced to the song’s eruption, layered over footage of the suburban streets where I grew up. The shifting visuals mirror the song’s collision of history and noise, while grounding its themes in my own experience, the connection that made me choose it in the first place. The project culminated in a surreal reward: singer Patrick Stickles (by way of his brother) discovered the animation on YouTube and shared it with fans on the band’s blog. This was undoubtedly a deeply affirming moment, especially given my fiery admiration for the band.
Additional Notes
Client:
Personal Project/Coursework
Methods:
After Effects animation, calligraphy, videography
The Band:
Titus Andronicus
